Getting Started with Twitter Slang

Twitter is a free microbloging, or social messaging tool that lets you stay connected to people through tweets -- a Twitter-specific post that can contain up to 140 characters, images, or videos. Twitter is used largely for reporting real-time events, like sports, and sharing what you are doing at the moment. Your tweets can be posted through Twitter, SMS text messaging, instant messaging, RSS, e-mail or through other social applications and sites.

Twitter Dictionary: Understanding Twitter Abbreviations and Slang

As with any new social medium, there is an entire vocabulary of abbreviations and slang words that users of the Twitter service ("Twitterers") adopt. Some of the new Twitter lingo describes the collection of people who use the service, while other abbreviations are used to describe specific functions and features of the service itself (like the Twitter abbreviation RT). Also, there are a number of terms which are basically Twitter shorthand: abbreviations that users include in their tweets.

Here are definitions to more than 130 Twitter abbreviations, words, phrases, and tools that are associated with the Twitter microblogging service -- our collection of the best twerminology (Twitter terminology).

Twerminology: 116 Twitter Slang Words & Abbreviations

@reply: The @reply means a Twitter update (a tweet) that is directed to another user in reply to their update. An @reply will be saved in the user's "Replies" tab. Replies are sent either by clicking the 'reply' icon next to an update or typing @ username message (e.g., @user I saw that movie too).

ab/abt: Short for "about." This chat abbreviation is is frequently seen on Twitter.

adventuritter: Slang term used to describe a Twitterer who is adventurous.

attwaction: Slang term used to describe an attraction between two users.

attwicted: Slang term used to describe someone who is addicted to Twitter.

bulltwit: Slang term to describe fake, false or over embellished Tweets.

Celebrity syndrome: This Twitter phrase refers to a situation in which a non-celebrity mistakenly believes he or she is a celebrity. Users with celebrity syndrome will not follow a significant number of Twitter users.

Fail Whale: On the Twitter site, the Fail Whale is an image of a whale held up by birds and nets. This image shows that Twitter has been overloaded or that a failure occurred within the service.

FAV: The FAV action on Twitter lets you mark a person's last message as a favorite message to be displayed in your Favorites Tab. To use FAV, type FAV username.

Follower / following: On Twitter, blogs, and other social media sites, a follower is someone who subscribes to receives your updates. On the Twitter Web site "following" someone means you will see their messages in your own personal timeline. Twitter lets you see all the people you follow and also who is following you.

FollowFriday (FF, or #followfriday): On Twitter, FollowFriday is a recommendation. It is used to call attention to a user's favorite followers and favorite people on Twitter. When you tweet a FF message, you are recommending that your followers also check out the people you mention in your post. When you send a FollowFriday message, you include #followfriday in your update so it can be searched for using that hash tag.

FOMO: An acronym used for the saying “fear of missing out,” which is used when you feel like you are not going to be included in a social event.

friendapalooza: A slang term used to describe a situation in which a twitterer adds many friends within a short time period.

friendscrapping: A slang term related to Twitter that refers to an individual adding all of a friend’s friends as his or her own.

FTL: An acronym frequently used on Twitter in place of the phrase “for the loss.”

FTW: An acronym frequently used on Twitter in place of the phrase “for the win.”

HAND: An acronym often used on Twitter, it stands for “have a nice day.”

Hash tag: A hash tag or hashtag is a way of organizing your updates for Twitter search engines. Users prefix a message with a community-driven hash tag to enable others to discover relevant posts. One commonly used hash tag on Twitter is #followfriday where users network by providing the names of their favorite people to follow on Twitter.

Hivemind: This is a term used to refer to the combined intelligence of all Twitter users.

Mention: Used to name another user within your tweet by using the @ symbol with the other user’s username.

microblog: A type of blog that lets users publish short text updates. Bloggers can usually use a number of services for the updates including instant messaging, e-mail, or Twitter. The posts are called micro posts, while the act of using these services to update your blog is called microblogging.

microfunding: Using Twitter and other forms of microblogging to raise money for nonprofits and charity donations.

mistweet: Slang term used to describe a tweet that you later regret having sent.

OH: Short for overheard. This chat abbreviation is used on Twitter, often in place of RT (retweet) when the user does not want to provide the username of the follower they are quoting.

PRT: Short for please retweet. This is a notation added to the end of a Tweet. PRT shows the user is asking others to retweet their post.

Retweet: Abbreviated as RT, retweet is used on Twitter to show you are tweeting something that was posted by another user. The format is RT @username where username is the Twitter name of the person you are retweeting.

selfie: Slang phrase used to describe a photo that is taken of oneself where the right or left arm is extended with the camera held backwards.

SMH: An acronym used for the saying “shaking my head” which is typically used when someone does not agree with something or is disgusted or off-put by something.

social networking site: Abbreviated as SNS, a social networking site is the phrase used to describe any website that enables users to create public profiles within that Web site and form relationships with other users of the same website. Social networking sites can be used to describe community-based websites, online discussions forums, chat rooms and other social spaces online.

TBH: An acronym for “to be honest.”

TBT: An acronym for “Throw Back Thursday,” usually following an old image as a reference to the past.

Twalking: Slang term used to describe someone who is walking while they tweet, using a mobile device.

twart: A slang term meaning “Twitter art.”

Twebay: Slang term used to describe selling (or promoting) an eBay item on Twitter.

Tweeple: Meaning Twitter people. It is used to refer to or describe Twitter users.

Tweet: Describes a Twitter update. A tweet is basically whatever you type into the Web box to answer that question, using 140 characters or less. People tweet personal messages, random thoughts, post links, or anything else that fits in the character requirements.

tweetaholic: The term used to describe someone who has a problematic addiction to Twitter.

tweeter: Refers to a person who send tweets on the Twitter service (same as Twitterer).

tweeterboxes: Slang term used to refer to Twitter users who "tweet excessively."

tweetorial: Slang term used to describe tutoring or lecturing on or about Twitter. Some industry speakers use the term to describe a live event where a lecture on a Twitter topic is given (e.g., a seminar or event that teaches people how to use Twitter), while others use the term to describe giving a lecture on Twitter. Here the host speaker will use a special designated hash tag so others can follow the lecture on Twitter.

tweetroduce: Slang term used to describe the situation in which a user introduces one follower to another.

tweetsult: Slang for an insult sent using Twitter.

twegal advice: Slang term for legal advice that is sent on twitter using 140 characters or less.

twerminology: A slang term meaning "Twitter terminology."

twettiquette: Short for Twitter etiquette. It is a slang term used to describe acceptable Twitter behavior.

Twewbie: Short for Twitter newbie. It is a slang term used to describe someone who is new to Twitter.

TwinkedIn: Slang term used to describe someone who invites their Twitter friends to interact with them on LinkedIn.

twis: Slang term used to describe a 'dis' on a fellow Twitter user.

Twishing: Twishing is a combination of the words "Twitter and phishing". It is the act of sending a message to a Twitter user in an attempt to obtain his or her name and password. The message may instruct the recipient to visit a Web site where he or she is asked to log in. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information. See "Beware of Twishing" in the Did You Know...? section of Webopedia for more information on Twishing.

Flock:A social browser with many Twitter related features. Users can send and read tweets, read mentions, and perform and save Twitter searches. There is also a character count tool Twitter users can use to make sure they stay within the character limit.

Foamee: A website where Twitter users can keep track of who owes them drinks (beer or coffee) and what drinks they owe to others.

FollowersForSale: With this Twitter tool, users can buy a certain number of followers for a set price.

Friend or Follow: A Twitter tool to find out whether people you following are following you back, and whether they are following the people following them. Interested twitterers simply need to enter their Twitter username at the site.

GeoChirp: A Twitter application that allows users to find other Twitter users who have similar interests in any specific geographical location.

Goo.gl: Google's own URL shortener. Offers short URLs, reliable service and good uptime.

GroupTweet: A Twitter tool that lets users send messages that can only be viewed by a selected group of Twitter friends.

HashTags.org:Categorize your tweets so people can find them and understand what they are all about.

Hootsuite:A social media management platform that is compatible with a variety of social media sites including Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

InnerTwitter: Encourages Twitter users to meditate by sending chimes at specific time intervals or at random times throughout the day. These chimes are the signal for users to spend a few quiet moments in meditation.

iTweet: This is an interface for Twitter designed to make it easier to use Twitter from an iPhone.

LinkBunch: This tool lets Twitter users combine several links into one link so they can be shared in a single tweet.

LoudTwitter: A Twitter tool that allows Twitter users to display Twitter updates on their blog.

PocketTweets: The name of a mobile Web-based Twitter client for the iPhone. You can use it to see the latest tweets from your contacts or to update your status remotely as well as download other Twitter applications.

SocialOomph: A service that allows its users to schedule tweets, track keywords, helps to extend Twitter profiles, and more.

Twidroid: A full-featured Twitter app designed for use on Android mobile phones.

TwitLonger: A tool that allows users to submit tweets longer than the allowed 140 characters by automatically including a link that followers can click to continue reading the full message.

Twitonomy: A resource that provide Twitter analytics from competitors, as well as which tweets have the highest retweet rate, and more.

Twitterfeed: Allows users to add RSS feeds that can be shared automatically through their Twitter account and other social media sites.

Twitrank: A Twitter user ranking service that provides an updated list of the top 150 Twitter users

Twitter Widgets: Twitter's own widgets are compatible with any website and most social networks.

Twtrland: A tool that allows users to filter other users based on categories that can help them find relevant users to connect with.

Last reviewed and edited by Erin Lee

Based in Nova Scotia, Vangie Beal is has been writing about technology for more than a decade. She is a frequent contributor to EcommerceGuide and managing editor at Webopedia. You can tweet her online @AuroraGG.